Sanitary device

ABSTRACT

The deodorization device of a sanitary device includes a case fixed to a rear portion of a toilet bowl, and a passage having a inlet hole and an outlet hole disposed in the case, a deodorant located in the inlet hole side in the passage, an electric fan located in the outlet hole side in the passage to face the outlet hole. When the electric fan is operated, the unpleasant odor gas is absorbed from the inlet hole and is removed the unpleasant odor by the deodorant. The odor free gas is discharged from the outlet hole.

[0001] This application is based on and claims priority under 35 U.S.C.§ 119 with respect to Japanese Patent Application No. 2002-137298 filedon May 13, 2002, the entire content of which is incorporated herein byreference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0002] The present invention relates to a sanitary device. Moreespecially, the present invention pertains to a deodorization device ofa sanitary device.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0003] Generally, a sanitary device for washing an anus and/or theprivate parts comprises a deodorization device for removing anunpleasant odor produced from bodily wastes. A known deodorizationdevice of the sanitary device is provided with a case fixed at a rearpart of a toilet bowl. The case includes a passage having an inlet holeand outlet hole, a deodorant located in the inlet hole side in thepassage, and an electric fan located in the outlet hole side in thepassage. The passage is usually formed into an L-shape or crank shape.When the electric fan is operated, the unpleasant odor gas is absorbedfrom the inlet hole and is removed by the deodorant, and then the odorfree gas is discharged from the outlet hole. The electric fan isdisposed in a vertical direction in the case. The outlet hole is formedin the bottom of the case. The odor free gas is delivered by theelectric fan and is discharged from the outlet hole through the L-shapedor crank shaped passage.

[0004] However, because the passage for sending the odor free gas to anoutside is L-shaped or crank shaped, the odor free gas collides with acorner of the Passage. This causes a turbulent flow of the odor freegas. This results in reducing the efficiency of the electric fan.

SUMARRY OF THE INVENTION

[0005] Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to providea deodorization device of a sanitary device which avoids the abovedescribed problems.

[0006] According to an aspect of the invention the deodorization deviceof the sanitary device comprises a case fixed at a rear part of a toiletbowl. The case includes a passage having an inlet hole and an outlethole, a deodorant located in the inlet hole side in the passage, and anelectric fan located in the outlet hole side in the passage to face theoutlet hole. When the electric fan is operated, the unpleasant odor gasis sucked from the inlet hole and is removed by the deodorant. The odorfree gas is discharged from the outlet hole.

BRIEF DISCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES

[0007]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a sanitary device seen from oneside, according to an embodiment of the invention;

[0008]FIG. 2 is a perspective view similar to FIG. 1 but seen from theother side;

[0009]FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a control mechanism of the sanitarydevice of FIG. 1;

[0010]FIG. 4 is a perspective view seen from one side showing an insideof the case of the sanitary device of FIG, 1;

[0011]FIG. 5 is a perspective view seen from the other side showing theinside of the case of the sanitary device of FIG. 1;

[0012]FIG. 6 is an explanatory view showing a hose of the sanitarydevice supported by the case;

[0013]FIG. 7 is an explanatory view showing a cross section of mainparts of deodorization device of the sanitary device; and

[0014]FIG. 8 is an explanatory view showing an electric fan disposed inthe deodorization device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0015] An embodiment of a sanitary device according to the presentinvention will be explained with reference to FIG. 1 through FIG. 8.

[0016] A sanitary device 10 provided with a case 14 fixed at an upperportion of a rear side of a toilet bowl 12. The case 14 has a firstcontrol mechanism 20, a second control mechanism 30, an electro magneticvalve 40, a hot water tank 50 for keeping the hot water heated by aheater 52 and a nozzle mechanism 60.

[0017] The electromagnetic valve 40 is placed inside the case 14 and ispositioned at one side thereof (left side as viewed in FIG. 5). Thevalve 40 is connected with a water supply source 70 through a hose 42and also is connected with the hot water tank 50 through a hose 44. Whenthe electromagnetic valve 40 is opened by an operation of the firstcontrol mechanism, the hot water in the hot water tank 50 is supplied toa nozzle 62 for washing buttocks (a nozzle 64 for washing pubic part asa bidet) through a switching valve 66. The nozzle for washing buttocks(the nozzle for washing pubic part as a bidet) is extended into thetoilet bowl 12. The hot water sprayed form the nozzle 62 (nozzle 64) tothe buttocks (pubic part) of the use. Depending on an operation of theswitching valve 66, the hot water is supplied to either the nozzle 62 orthe nozzle 64.

[0018] The hot water tank 50 is disposed at the other side of the insideof the case 14. The hot water in the hot water tank 50 is heated by theheater 52. A temperature of the water is always detected by atemperature sensor 54. The temperature signal detected by the sensor 54is sent to a CPU 32 of the second control mechanism 30. When the watertemperature reaches a predetermined temperature, the CPU 32 turns atriac 34 ON. When the triac 34 is ON, the heater 52 is conducted throughan electric power source 90 to keep the water to the predeterminedtemperature.

[0019] As described above, the hot water tank 50 is fluidicallyconnected to the water supply source 70 through the hose 44, the electromagnetic valve 40 and the hose 42. A pipe 72 is disposed between thewater supply source 70 and the hose 42. One end of the pipe 72 isconnected to the water supply source 70, and the other end of the pipe72 is connected to one end 42 a of the hose 42 in orthogonal manner. Thehose 42 supplies water from the water supply source to the hot watertank 50. In other wards, the hose 42 serves as a water supply source forthe hot water tank 50. As shown in FIG. 1, FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, the pipe72 and the end 42 a of the hose 42 is placed at a left side of the case14.

[0020] As illustrated in FIG. 4, a drain port 100 is formed at the rightside of the hot water tank 50. The drain port 100 is connected with anend of an inverse L-shaped drain pipe 110 provided with a valve (notshown). The other end of the drain pipe 110 is extended form a bottomwall of the case 14 to the a floor and is positioned in a predeterminedheight from the floor in order to place in a bucket at a bottom of theother end of the drain pipe 110 (not shown). After the bucket placedunder the other end of the drain pipe 110, water inside the hot watertank 50 is discharged by opening the valve. The other end of the drainpipe 110 is placed at the right side of the case 14 and the case 14 isplaced at the opposite side of the pipe 72 for supplying water. Thus,the water is discharged smoothly without interferences between thebucket and the pipe 72 for supplying water and an electric wire. (notshown)

[0021] The hot water tank 50 is formed by two parts, a part 50 A and apart 50B. The part 50A of the hot water tank 50 is provided with anopening flange 50X and also the other part 50B of the hot water tank 50is provided with an opening flange 50Y. These flanges are integrated bywelding respective opening flanges 50X and 50Y. The surface enclosed bythe connected opening flanges 50X and 50 Y is extended in a verticaldirection relative to the case. The parts of 50A, 50B forming the hotwater tank 50 is formed by molding. Thus, when an entire shape of theopening flange 50X (50Y) is viewed from a front direction of the watertank 50, the enclosed area of the opening flange 50X (50Y) becomes thelargest. Accordingly if the outer shape of the front portion 50A (therear portion 50B) of the hot water tank 50 is fitted to an inner shapeof the case 14 and shapes of the other components in the case 14, adead-space between the outer shape of the front portion 50 A (the rearportion 50 B) and the inner shape of the case 14 can be reduced.

[0022] The CPU 32 of the second control device 30, a triac 34 and othercomponents, such as an electric device 36 are fixed on a board 38 housedin a board case 80. The triac 34 and the electronic device 36 arebridged by a cooling plate 82. The cooling plate 82 is formed in ahorseshoe shape. The hose 44 connecting the electro magnetic valve 40with the hot water tank 50 is extended through the in side of the case14. The hose 44 is retained at the horseshoe portion of the coolingplate 82. The triac 34, the CPU 32, and the other electronic device 36are heated to 60° C. and 40° C. respectively. Water supplied to the hotwater tank 50 is heated by the generated heat from the triac 34, the CPU32 and the electronic device 36. Water supplied into the hot water tank50 has been heated to a predetermined temperature, and accordingly thewater to be sprayed from the nozzle 62 (or 64) has enough temperaturewhich will not make a user feel uncomfortable. Also negative effect dueto dew condensation on electronic devices resulting from a difference intemperature between the inside and outside of the hose 44 can beavoided.

[0023] Finally, a deodorization device 200 will be explained withreference to FIG. 4, FIG. 7 and FIG. 8. The deodorization device 200provides with a passage 202. The passage 202 is formed between a cover204 detachably fixed on a left side of a base plate 142 of the case 14and the base plate 142. The cover 204 is formed with an inlet hole 206exposed to the inside the toilet bowl, and the inlet hole 206 isprovided with a detachable cartridge type deodorant 208. A number ofholes 144 are formed at the left side of the base plate 142 and theholes 144 communicate with the inside of the toilet bowl 12. These holes144 serve as the outlet hole of the passage 202. Pedestals 222 have pins220 at each tip end. The pedestals 222 enclosing the outlet hole 144 areformed integrally with the base plate 142 at the left side. Holes 234formed in the body 232 of the electric fan 230 are mounted on thepedestals through pins 220. Consequently, the electric fan 230 is placedon pins 220 with keeping the height of the pedestals 222 in parallel.

[0024] The deodorization device 200 is provided with passage 202 fixedon the case 14. The deodorization device 200 includes inlet hole 206 andoutlet hole 144, the deodorant 208 is places on the inlet hole 206 sidein the passage 202. The electric fan 230 is placed on the outlet holeside in the passage 202 to face the outlet hole 144. A space between theelectric fan 230 and the deodorant 208 serves as a passage 202A, and aspace between the electric fan 230 and the outlet hole 144 serves as asecond passage 202 B..

[0025] After washing a human body part by the operation of the abovedescribed nozzle mechanism 60, the electric fan is activated by adeodorization switch (not shown). The unpleasant odor gas is absorbedfrom inlet hole 206 and the gas is turned to be odor free by thedeodorant 208. The odor free gas is discharged from the outlet hole 114to the inside of the toilet bowl.

[0026] In the deodorization device 200, the gas flow route is asfollows: the unpleasant odor gas flows from the inlet hole 206 andunpleasant odor is removed by the deodorant 208 provided in the hole206. The odor free gas then flows form the first passage 202A to thesecond passage 202B by the operation of the electric fan 230 and thenthe odor free gas is discharged from the outlet hole 144 to the insideof the toilet bowl. The second passage 202B is cylindrically shapedwithout having any bending portion, so that the gas can flow smoothly.The electric fan would not receive any excess load. The outlet hole 144communicates with inside of the toilet bowl, thus the noise of theelectric fan 230 is transmitted to the inside of the toile bowl throughthe outlet hole 144. Therefore the noise would not leak to the toiletspace.

[0027] In addition, the outlet hole 144 can be formed at a side portionof the case 14. In such a case, the electric fan 230 is placed inpassage 222 to face the outlet hole 144.

[0028] The principles, preferred embodiment and mode of operation of thepresent invention have been described in the foregoing specification.However, the invention which is intended to be protected is not to beconstrued as limited to the particular embodiments disclosed. Further,the embodiments described herein are to be regarded as illustrativerather than restrictive. Variations and changes may be made by others,and equivalents employed, without departing from the sprit of thepresent invention. Accordingly, it is expressly intended that all suchvariations, changes and equivalents which fall within the spirit andscope of the present invention as defined in the claims, be embracedthereby.

What is claimed is:
 1. A deodorization device of a sanitary devicecomprising: a case fixed to a rear portion of a toilet bowl, the casebeing defined therein with a passage having an inlet hole and an outlethole, a deodorant positioned in the inlet .hole side in the passage, andan electric fan positioned in the outlet hole side in the passage toface the outlet hole, wherein the deodorant turns an odor gas absorbedfrom the inlet hole into an odor free gas and the odor free gas isdischarged from the outlet hole into the toilet bowl by an operation ofthe electric fan.
 2. A deodorization device of a sanitary deviceaccording to claim 1, wherein the passage includes a first passagebetween the electric fan and the deodorant, a second passage between theelectric fan and outlet hole and the second passage is cylindricallyshaped, so that the odor free gas can flow into the toilet bowl withoutgenerating any turbulence.
 3. A deodorization device of a sanitarydevice according to claim 2, wherein one end of the outlet hole facesthe electric fan and the other end of the outlet hole exposed to theinside of the toilet bowl.
 4. A deodorization device of a sanitarydevice according to claim 1, wherein the outlet hole is positionedvertically with respect to the toilet bowl and the other end of theoutlet hole is positioned at lower side of the case.